Top News

Having grown up across Tokyo, Mumbai, Manila, Washington D.C. and New York City, Revati Mahurkar often found herself searching for a sense of belonging. She discovered it through Kathak, a dance form that became both a creative outlet and an emotional anchor during her childhood. Revati says, “It was the perfect escape. During my school years, when I was lonely more often than not, dance was where I found myself.”

Her passion for performing only grew stronger. While studying psychology at Barnard College, Columbia University, she balanced multiple jobs, teaching dance, performing as a professional background dancer and acting in theatre productions across New York. Yet, the prospect of pursuing a conventional career left her questioning her path. She says, “I went through a difficult phase because I couldn't live without the performing arts. During the pandemic, I was dancing every day through online classes. That’s when I realised it wasn’t just a passion. It was my whole life.”

Choosing Bollywood, however, was far from easy. Revati’s decision was met with resistance at home, especially after she had been discouraged from dreaming of becoming an actress as a child. She says, “I started imagining other futures for myself, but I kept coming back to this one. My family gradually came around after seeing my commitment.”

Her breakthrough came unexpectedly during a visit to Mumbai, when choreographer Bosco Martis discovered her on Instagram and cast her as the lead dancer in Guru Randhawa 's music video Qatal. That, however, did not instantly translate into a steady stream of work. She says, “I thought that kind of success would mean a quick turnaround in projects. I soon learned the industry is a very different beast from what I was used to.”

Subsequent projects, including Mascara and Hardy Sandhu ’s Tevar, reinforced another lesson. She shares, “Between each project there is a struggle again. Being an outsider means there's no defined path. You have to figure it out for yourself.”

Another opportunity came her way when she was invited to perform with Akshay Kumar at an awards show after being noticed by the event’s team during rehearsals with Bosco Martis. She recalls, “It was the most nerve-wracking moment of my life. Performing alongside someone so senior, you want to get everything right.”

Looking ahead, Revati is focused on expanding her acting career across films and OTT while simultaneously working on her original music. She shares, “One year in this industry has taught me that you can't control what's going to happen, no matter how hard you work. You have to keep going and let life take you where it takes you. I am currently developing original tracks and meeting filmmakers as I work towards my next acting project.”